Risk of Bird and Bat Strike

Transcription

1 Risk of Bird and Bat Strike Executive Summary The proposed site for the Western Sydney Airport (WSA) is incompatible with an airport, as legally required mitigation strategies for the prevention of bird and bat strike are not possible. Bird and bat strike is estimated to cost in excess of US$1,255,726,475 per year worldwide, or US64.50 per flight, as a result of damage, flight delays and cancellations. Bird and bat strikes can also cause catastrophic engine failure, leading to the downing of aircraft and the deaths of those on board. Implications of such an event in the proposed region are severe given the nearby location of Warragamba dam and the surrounding catchment area, which supplies 70% of Sydney s water supply. The species that cause the most damage to aircraft in Australia are bats/flying foxes, galahs, lapwings, kites, ducks, hawks, and magpies (EIS vol 4 appendix 1). All of these species are present in and around the proposed airport site. Other hazardous species are also present, including ibis, pigeons, sulphur crested cockatoos, long billed corellas and eagles. Airports are required, under international legal obligations; to monitor and take mitigating action to prevent bird and bat strike within a radius of approximately 13km of an airport (ICAO). Mitigation strategies include destruction of perches, destruction of habitat, harassment, killing, and blocking access to water. The airport site itself contains a conservation zone, and hectares of the listed, critically endangered Cumberland Plains Woodland. The above mitigation strategies are not compatible with the presence of these sites, and therefore not compatible with an airport. Within the 13km radius there exist many water sources and conservation zones, including Bents Basin, Prospect Reservoir, the Nepean River, and the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains National Park. These sites are incompatible with the above mitigation strategies, and therefore not compatible with an airport. The ICAO requirements state that agricultural crops should be discouraged, and that water bodies are a particular hazard in proximity to airport sites. The proposed site for the WSA is surrounded by agricultural land containing approximately 125 dams within a 3km radius of the site. These sites pose a high risk of bird strike. The required destruction of these and other sites would lead to loss of livelihood for many rural enterprises in the region. There are seven identified bat/flying fox camps surrounding the proposed airport site, containing millions of bats. Some of these are located directly underneath proposed flight paths close to the airport site. There are many food sources for these bats located in and around the proposed airport site, including the listed, critically endangered Cumberland Plains Woodlands. These will attract bats to fly across and around the airport site in all directions, creating a high risk of bat strike. Thousands, possibly millions, of bats/flying foxes, are also known to migrate down the path of the Nepean River every evening. This migration path directly bisects the proposed flight paths for aircraft landing at Badgerys Creek and would create a high risk of aircraft strike in close proximity to Warragamba Dam. RAWSA Fact sheet on Western Sydney Airport - Risk of Bird and Bat Strike v3 Page 1 of 9

2 Introduction The EIS for the proposed Western Sydney Airport assesses bird and bat strike risk in Volume 4, Appendix 1. The EIS emphasises that this is a preliminary report only, and may not represent the true risk of bird and bat strike. The investigation of bird and bat strike risk involved a desktop review of the presence of flying foxes and one species of bird (white ibis) only. The bird survey consisted of a drive around in the immediate vicinity of the proposed airport site for two days in March. Access to many of the identified habitats was not available, and so these areas could not be assessed. No night time survey for the presence of nocturnal animals was conducted. No seasonal study was conducted. No assessment of migratory bird or bat routes was conducted. This assessment is therefore completely inadequate for gauging the true risk of bird and bat strike at or near the site. Nevertheless, the EIS concludes that there is a risk of bird and bat strike at the proposed location due to species presence and abundance, habitat availability, projected aircraft movements, and the staged nature of the proposed construction. The claim is made that this risk can be adequately managed, however, given that the true risk was not defined, and for the many reasons outlined below, this claim cannot be true. Bird and bat strike represents a serious threat to aviation activities, that results in both economic loss, and loss of life. There are legal requirements in place for the management of collisions of aircraft with birds and bats. These include the requirement for airport authorities to reduce the prevalence of wildlife attracting sites and expel hazardous birds, using lethal means where required, in the immediate vicinity, and within a 13km radius of airports (ICAO Doc 9137, 2012). 1. Why is bird and bat strike a problem? 1.1 Safety Bird and bat collisions with aircraft pose a significant threat to safety in the aviation industry. Collisions frequently involve engine ingestion, and this can lead to engine failure. Flocking species such as galahs are a particular threat, as multiple strikes often occur with these species (Australian Transport Safety Bureau, 2014). Multiple strikes can cause more than one engine to fail, leading to catastrophic consequences. Between 1912 and 2014, 120 aircraft have been destroyed due to bird strike. 60 of these incidents led to the death of 297 people (Thorpe, 2014). It should be noted that collision with other, ground based, wildlife, though rare, is also a threat to aircraft at airports. Such collisions can lead to dangerous abortions of takeoff or landing. Animals such as kangaroos and wallabies pose a danger in this regard. These species are known to exist within the airport site and in surrounding areas. 1.2 Economic impacts The cost of bird and bat strike to the aviation industry is not solely due to safety concerns. There are significant financial consequences. Costs include repair to damaged aircraft, the cost of deterring and managing bird and bat populations in the vicinity of airports, the number of delays due to wildlife strike, and the number of cancellations due to wildlife strike. All of these factors contribute accumulatively to the economic impact of bird and bat strike. Calculations by Allan J, presented at the USDA National Wildlife Research Center Symposium 2000, incorporated the above factors into a calculation of total estimated economic impact. The total calculated cost of bird and bat strike worldwide was calculated as US$1,255,726,475 per year, or US$64.50 per flight. For one airline alone, there were 1,326 strikes recorded in 1999, with a total cost of repairs of US$6,200,000. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), in its report for 2014, recorded 14,571 bird strikes in the RAWSA Fact sheet on Western Sydney Airport - Risk of Bird and Bat Strike v3 Page 2 of 9

3 period from 2004 to 2013, mostly involving high capacity aircraft. Kites alone were involved in 129 strikes per year during this period. Increased costs to airports and airlines due to bird and bat strike have a flow on effect in terms of increased airfares, which will, in turn, negatively impact on in-bound tourism (Tourism Research Australia, 2012). 1.3 Legal obligations Due to the threat posed by bird and bat strike, the International Civil Aviation Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organization have created safety regulations and manuals of standards for the management of wildlife strike in the vicinity of airports (CAA, 2014; ICAO, 2012; ICAO, 2013). There are also recommendations from the International Birdstrike Committee (IBC, 2006). The ICAO has regulations in place for the management of collisions, and requires authorities to take actions to reduce the prevalence of wildlife attracting sites in the vicinity of airports (Doc9137, 2012). Other requirements include expulsion of hazardous birds, using lethal means where appropriate, habitat and land management at the airport and in its vicinity, discouragement of agricultural crops, restriction of access by wildlife to water sources. The defined radius for these actions is 13km from the runways. Australia is a signatory to these regulations, and as such, is obliged to comply with them. In Australia, aircraft wildlife strikes are dealt with under the National Airport Safeguarding Framework (NASF). The NASF guidelines (Dept of Infrastructure and Transport, 2012) require airports to manage the presence of wildlife attractants within a radius of 13km from runways). These include limitation of food sources, restriction of perch sites and prevention of water access. 2. The Airport Site and Bird/Bat Strike Risk 2.1 Attractive Features The relative attractiveness of different habitats and required mitigation strategies for preventing bird and bat strike are illustrated in Table 3.1 RAWSA Fact sheet on Western Sydney Airport - Risk of Bird and Bat Strike v3 Page 3 of 9

4 RAWSA Fact sheet on Western Sydney Airport - Risk of Bird and Bat Strike v3 Page 4 of 9

5 Of the high to moderate risk land uses described above, the following are present within a 13km radius of the proposed airport site: cattle and dairy farms, poultry farms, wildlife sanctuaries, both wetland and dryland, show ground, sport grounds, golf course, sport facility, parks, picnic/camping grounds, and landfill waste facilities. The presence of grasslands and remnant woodlands are other attractive features present at and around the site. The Luddenham showground is within 3km, and this is incompatible with the construction of an airport. The landfill waste facilities are between 3 and 8km. There are poultry and cattle farms in the immediate vicinity. Twin peaks golf course is 3-4km. There are approximately 125 farm dams within the 3km zone. These dams were regarded by Avisure as representing the greatest risk of bird attraction (WSA Draft EIS, vol 4, appendix 1). In the EIS, only two desktop resources were used to identify attractive bird and bat sites (Ecosure, 2009; Dept of the Environment, 2015). A large number of sites were not considered or visited. For example, Bents Basin (10km), Warragamba Dam (12km), Prospect Reservoir (13km) and the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains National Park (8km). There is no possibility of mitigating the risk posed by these sites, as they are protected under law. It will therefore be impossible to comply with the ICAO regulations in managing an airport sited at Badgerys Creek. 2.2 Bird Species Present The survey used to determine species present and the risk posed to the airport was undertaken within the proposed airport site only, by vehicle only, over two days in March (EIS vol 4, appendix 1). No nocturnal study was conducted. No seasonal data was collected. No migratory paths were studied. This is grossly inadequate, and doesn t comply with the 13km radius stipulated in the regulations given above. Despite the EIS study s shortcomings, numerous high risk species were identified, including Ibis, egrets, four species of ducks, pigeons, lapwings and galahs. Of particular concern were the large numbers of ibis and ducks. In addition to this, a recent survey (8am, 6 th March, 2016) conducted by the Blue Mountains Bird Observers (BMBO) at Euroka, close to the eastern edge of the Blue Mountains National Park, identified 25 bird species, including sulphur crested cockatoos and square tailed kites. Sulphur crested cockatoos would pose a significant risk, since they are large, form into huge flocks, and feed on the ground, whilst sentinels keep watch. At any signal of danger from the sentinels, the entire flock immediately rises into the air (Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds, 2010). The consequence of this for an aircraft flying overhead is catastrophic. BMBO also keep an updated bird list for the Blue Mountains that contains 13 species of eagles, 4 species of falcons, 7 species of cockatoo, 11 species of parrot and lorikeet, 13 species of duck, the black swan, and the Australian pelican, which exist not only in the vicinity of the airport, but along the projected flight paths as well. Bird watchers at Prospect Reservoir have identified the presence of grey goshawks, wedge tailed eagle, Australian raven, and whistling kite (2004, The EIS report on Biodiversity recorded numerous listed, threatened bird species at the airport site, including the high risk species Little Eagle, and blue billed duck, and high risk migratory birds Great Egret, Cattle Egret, and White Bellied Sea Eagle. The listed (vulnerable) Grey headed flying fox was also observed foraging and transiting across the airport site (EIS volume 2 chapter 16). Together, the presence of these high risk species within a 13km radius of the proposed airport site, and the impossibility of taking mitigation strategies against them, makes Badgerys Creek a dangerous and costly site for an airport. It also makes it impossible to comply with International regulations on bird and bat strike risk imposed for the construction of new airports (ICAO, 2012, ICAO, 2013). 2.3 Fruit Bat Presence and Migration Routes The proposed WSA airport site is surrounded by seven flying fox/bat camps, at a distance of from approximately 10km to 15km. (Figure 7, Draft EIS, vol 4, appendix 1) RAWSA Fact sheet on Western Sydney Airport - Risk of Bird and Bat Strike v3 Page 5 of 9

6 FACT SHEET ON WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT BIRD & BAT STRIKE There are food plant sources for these bats in the form of remnant woodlands throughout the region. Bats could therefore be expected to fly across this region in all directions in order to reach flowering food plants. No bats were identified during the EIS survey. This was not RAWSA Fact sheet on Western Sydney Airport - Risk of Bird and Bat Strike v3 Page 6 of 9

7 surprising, since they did not survey at night, and the potential food trees were not in flower at the time. They did acknowledge that other surveys have indeed identified bats within the region (GHD, 2015). From the above image, it is obvious that there are both bats and food resources on both sides of the airport. This situation poses the greatest risk of aircraft collision (draft EIS vol 4, appendix 1). The same risk is posed by the presence of dams on all sides of the airport. Finally, it is common local knowledge that thousands (possibly millions) of flying foxes migrate along the path of the Nepean River every evening. The migration path for these bats directly bisects the proposed incoming flight paths of aircraft landing at Badgerys Creek. These aircraft would be at a height of only 2,200 feet at this point, well within the common strike zone. Aircraft would therefore be at high risk of bat strike every night. This risk alone should make the proposed site unsuitable as a location for an airport. 3. Conflict with Conservation Zones and Endangered Woodlands Environmental conservation zones exist along Badgerys Creek and Oaky Creek, within the proposed airport site. These would remain after construction of the airport is complete, and would therefore pose a significant bird and bat strike risk unless suitably managed. Management by the removal of trees, or the harassment and killing of birds, is not in line with the aims of a conservation zone, and would decrease biodiversity at this site hectares of Cumberland Plains Woodland exist within the proposed airport site, with other remnants in the surrounding area. These Woodlands provide shelter and food for both birds and bats, including 21 species of threatened birds, and six species of threatened bat, including the grey headed flying fox. At least five of the threatened bird species are high risk for bird strike (Gang gang cockatoo, Glossy black cockatoo, little eagle, square tailed kite, and blue billed duck). Aircraft collisions could therefore make a negative impact on their populations, and contribute to their continuing demise. The Cumberland Plains Woodland originally covered an area of 125,000 hectares across Western Sydney. Today, only 6,400 hectares remain. It is listed under the Federal Government Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act (1999) and the NSW Threatened Species Act (1995) as a critically endangered ecological community. The two largest protected remnants are at Scheyville National Park (920 hectares) and Mulgoa Nature Reserve (213 hectares)( The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney). By contrast, Royal National Park, which protects Hawksbury Sandsone communities, is 15,091 hectares. Given the small area remaining of conserved Cumberland Plains Woodland, the remnant site found within the airport site is very significant. It constitutes 5.8% of the entire population still in existence. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee of the Australian Government Dept of the Environment had this to say on the long term management of the Cumberland Plains Woodland some areas occur within conservation reserves, but this is NOT sufficient to ensure its long term survival unless factors threatening the integrity and survival of the community are eliminated. This includes any clearing of remaining remnant sites. Clearing of the airport site and surrounding areas for construction, and in order to reduce the risk of bird and bat strike, would therefore contravene environmental legislation and lead to the potential extinction of the Cumberland Plains Woodland. RAWSA Fact sheet on Western Sydney Airport - Risk of Bird and Bat Strike v3 Page 7 of 9

8 Recommendations The proposed site is not suitable for an airport due to the; high risk of bat strike for aircraft descending over the Nepean River during the evening. presence of many bird and bat attracting features. presence and abundance of many high risk species. presence of threatened species of birds and bats Many of the bird and bat strike risk areas are protected, and therefore, mitigation strategies are not possible. For example; the Cumberland Plains Woodland is critically endangered. Clearing of this woodland to mitigate bird and bat strike risk should not be an option. At a minimum, comprehensive testing needs to be carried out to determine the true risk level of bird and bat strike for Western Sydney Airport including: Monthly bird and bat surveys for one year, during day and night, and including all nature reserves and woodlands in the 13km radius, such as the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area, Burragorang Conservation area, Warragamba Dam, Lake Burragorang and parts of the Nepean river. Acknowledgements This document was compiled from many sources. We would like to thank the following people for their research: Linda Weaving; Beth Rohrlach (Blue Mountains Conservation Society); Sarah Richards; Peter Dollin and Paul Goleby. Bibliography Beth Rohrlach (2015) Response to Appendix 1 Bird and Bat Strike section of draft EIS for the proposed Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek, Blue Mountains Conservation Society, Blue Mountains, NSW The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney (2016). Western Sydney woodland. Retrieved 03 15, 2016, from: Discoveries/Natural-Areas-Management/Ecology-of-Cumberland-Plain- Woodland/Western-Sydney-woodland Birding-Aus (2005). Good birding at Prospect Reservoir - Sydney, NSW - 13th November Retrieved 03 15, 2016, from: Allan, J (2000). The Cost of Bird Strikes and Bird Strike Prevention. USDA National Wildlife Research Center Symposia. Human Conflicts with Wildlife: Economic Considerations Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Transport (2012). National Airports Safeguarding Framework Guideline C: Managing the Risk of Wildlife Strikes in the Vicinity of Airports Australian Transport Safety Bureau (2014). Australian Aviation Wildlife Strike Statistics RAWSA Fact sheet on Western Sydney Airport - Risk of Bird and Bat Strike v3 Page 8 of 9

9 Civil Aviation Authority (2014). Manual of Standards Part 139 Aerodromes Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. (2015). Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (2015). Western Sydney Airport Environmental Impact Statement: Volume 4, Technical Reports, Appendix 1 Bird and Bat Strike. Canberra. Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. (2015). Western Sydney Airport Environmental Impact Statement: Volume 2 Stage 1 Development Chapter 16 Biodiversity. Canberra. Ecosure (2009). Sydney Basin Australian White Ibis Regional Management Plan. West Burleigh, Queensland GHD (2015). Western Sydney EIS Biodiversity Assessment International Birdstrike Committee (2006). Recommended Practices No 1 Standards for Aerodrome Bird/Wildlife Control International Civil Aviation Organisation (2012) Doc 9137 Airport Services Manual. Part 3: Wildlife Control and Reduction International Civil Aviation Organisation (2013). Annex 14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation: Aerodromes, vol 1 Aerodrome Design and Operation Reader s Digest (2010). Reader s Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds, Surry Hills, NSW Thorpe, J (2014). Update to 100 Years of Fatalities and Destroyed Aircraft Due to Bird Strikes. 31 st Meeting of the World Birdstrike Association, Mexico City, Mexico Tourism Research Australia (2012). Factors Affecting the Inbound Tourism Sector the impact and implication of the Australian Dollar. Australian Government, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism RAWSA Fact sheet on Western Sydney Airport - Risk of Bird and Bat Strike v3 Page 9 of 9